Saturday, October 1, 2016

TEXAS-Stories of the Land to Open at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art

Celebrated artist Jay Hester weaves tales of western
romanticism surrounding legends of the Texas Hill Country in his upcoming solo
exhibition: “TEXAS: Stories of the Land.” Hester, a prolific painter with a
long career steeped in traditional landscapes and western themes, has created
commissioned works for Texas Tech University, USAA in San Antonio, the Zaragosa
Theater at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and the Driscoll Children’s Hospital in
Corpus Christi, to name a few.This
exhibition, scheduled for October at the JR Mooney Gallery of Fine Arts in
Boerne, is the artist’s first solo show in almost twenty years. For this show the
affectionately known “Godfather” of the Boerne art scene applies his skills to
the histories, legends and characters that helped shape the Hill Country of
today.

Hester’s exploration of Western Romanticism is set against
an unsure, sometimes violent backdrop of natives, pioneers, and rangers in
“TEXAS-Stories of the Land”.His
storyboard includes raids, battles, and surgeries with characters such as one
of Boerne’s founding fathers, Dr. Ferdinand Herff, and Texas Ranger John Coffee
“Jack” Hayes. Hester used historical sources to corroborate with his artistic
vision. He is aware of the discrepancies and contradictions that usually come
up in historical research. He has many stories to choose from, and Hester tells
them in his style using beautiful lighting and tough looking characters. He
blends them into paintings that highlight moments of peace and courage during tense
times.

The strongest example of the artist’s vision is the show’s
center piece, “The Healer.” The painting shows Dr. Ferdinand Herff’s pioneering
cataract surgery on a Comanche chief. Dr. Herff was a German doctor for the Prussian
army who eventually settled in Texas. He helped start the Bettina colonies as
well as Boerne. This revolutionary surgery, possibly the first in the country,
was performed in the 1840’s outdoors and without anesthesia. Needless to say,
the event created a bond between the Comanche band and Herff‘s group which
resulted in some peace. Herff would go
on to become the chief medical examiner for San Antonio, pioneering more
surgeries and medical practice. He was one of the most sought after practitioners
of his day. “Dr. Herff became a larger than life figure in our area with all he
accomplished as a young doctor in this uncertain country. His fair treatment of
all people gained him respect by many tribes of Indians, as well as the rugged
settlers of this part of Texas,” says Hester.

Another example of
western romanticism inspired by legends about Boerne is Hester’s painting of
the white arrow. By the 1880’s most surviving Native Americans lived on
reservations. Quanah Parker had already surrendered and the Texas Indian Wars
were over. However, there were still small resistance groups of Lipan Apache eking
out their existence in the Hill Country. Legend has it that sometime during the
1880’s an elder Dr. Herff took his family to their Boerne homestead for a
vacation from the busy city life in San Antonio. At the same time one of those
groups of Lipan Apaches raided Boerne. The Herffs quickly boarded up their home
and took shelter for the night, able to hear the sounds of pillaging in town.
The next morning one of Herff’s sons went outside to survey the damage. To his
surprise, their lands were untouched. There was a white feathered arrow shot
into the homestead fence post.This type
of arrow was a Lipan Apache sign to the raiders to leave the homestead in
peace. It was said to have been shot by
a Lipan Apache warrior who remembered the doctor had helped his family. Hester’s
painting shows the dramatic moment raiding warriors arrive at the Herff
homestead. The bold setting sun is surrounded by the dark storm clouds and the
white feathered arrow stands out against the darker palette. Hester captures the climactic moment when the
leading raider, weapon drawn, turns away.

Other paintings in “TEXAS: Stories of the Land” depict
serene scenes that highlight the peaceful achievement of the communities. One
showcases the unlikely friendship between Texas Ranger John (Jack) Coffee Hayes
and Lipan-Apache chief, Flacco the Younger. Flacco would accompany Hayes on
expeditions serving as a guide. The two became close and traveled together
until Flacco was murdered, possibly by white settlers. Hester chose to reflect
on happier times. The painting shows them riding through quiet, serene Joshua
Creek. The steep walls of the limestone
cliffs reflect the warm afternoon light and the still creek. Hester’s colorful foliage indicates it is fall
and the two ride at a casual pace probably enjoying the nice weather. A sense
of companionship permeates the canvas and far away is the fighting that preoccupied
much of these men’s time.

Perhaps the most serene of the group, ”Lasting
Friendship”depicts the Meusebach Peace
Treaty, which was also immortalized by Hester in bronze at the Markt Platz on
the main square in Fredericksburg. The painting depicts chief Buffalo Hump
offering the peace pipe to John Meusebach. The chief sits calmly with his legs
crossed and Meusebach accepts the pipe on bended knee. The Comanche warriors
and elders surround him in anticipation. What is of note is that the Comanche
treaties were specifically with the Germans. The Comanche considered them
displaced people. The tribe did not make peace with Mexico, Texas or the United
States.

Finally, the painting “Lena’s Legend” represents hope.
Pioneer times in Texas were rough and too often families were torn apart. Even
once a settlement was established there was no guarantee it would prosper, let
alone survive. There was disease, hunger and the constant fear of raids. No one
living there was immune and it was common practice for Comanche to take prisoners
of war, or slaves after battles or raids. Lena was a Mexican child living with
the Comanche under these circumstances. As a gesture of friendship, she joined
the settlers in Bettina colony shortly after Dr. Herff’s cataract surgery on
the chief. Although she was not reunited with her biological family, Lena adopted
a new one at the German colony. She learned the language and found her place in
the community. She married Hermann
Spiess, a prominent settler, and had a family of her own proving that a person
could survive and prosper in the wild, dangerous country.

“TEXAS-Stories of the Land” runs through November 5th, 2016
at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art in Boerne. More information for this
exhibition can be found at www.jrmooneygalleries.com. Please join us for the
opening reception at JR Mooney Galleries of Fine Art in Boerne on Saturday
October 8 from 4-8pm.

by: Gina Martinez, art and framing consultant for J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art-Boerne. Originally published in The Dominion Magazine, October 2016